15 February 2019
‘Time for an all-Ireland conversation on unity’ Sinn Féin leader tells civic forum
"The demand for unity is growing. Ireland North and South is changing. Now is the time to look the future." - Mary Lou McDonald TD
Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald has said now is the time for an all-Ireland conversation on Irish reunification, and that “Tory policy in London cannot, by accident or design, lead to the imposition of an EU frontier across Ireland”.
The Dublin Central TD today addressed the ‘All-Ireland Civic Dialogue on Brexit' at Dublin Castle. Speaking at the event.
Hundreds of delegates gathered in Dublin Castle for the conference alongside civic society groups, political representatives from the entire island as well as ambassadors from abroad.
Meanwhile in the British Parliament, with six weeks to go until Brexit, British Prime Minister Theresa May suffered another embarrassing blow on a key Brexit vote.
The Tory leader has effectively abandoned her own agreement and is now demanding a renegotiation on her own deal to appease the DUP and hard-line Brexiteers.
Speaking at the event, the Sinn Féin leader reiterated the point that the Irish people have not consented to Brexit or any hard border on the island.
“We believe that the ‘backstop’ contained within the withdrawal agreement is a vital insurance policy to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland and must be upheld. It is the bare minimum that is required,” she said.
Deputy McDonald finished her speech by urging all delegates to look to the future, and to begin preparing for the creation of an all-island state.
“The demand for unity is growing. Ireland north and south is changing. Now is the time to look the future.
“It is time for an all-Ireland conversation and forum to look to the future. To plan for all possible outcomes. To define a new and united Ireland,” she concluded.